Petition the U.S. State Department to take action against FreshDirect

FreshDirect proposes to use $130 million in tax payer subsidies to occupy public waterfront land in the South Bronx, imposing 2,000 daily vehicle trips through a community already facing asthma rates five times the national average.

This company is a parasite on the public: they use public dollars to aggravate public streets with noise, exhaust, and waste.

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about FreshDirect’s proposed use of nearly $130 million in public money to occupy public waterfront land in the South Bronx, imposing upwards of 2,000 daily vehicle trips through a community already facing asthma hospitalization rates at five times the national average.

They have not performed a full and current Environmental IMpact Statement. They want to occupy land that is owned by the NYSDOT but subleased for 99 years with below market rates and no public benefits.

We are concerned about the freshness of a product that would come from a site next to four waste transfer stations, as well as the imminent desecration of land documented to have evidence of a Native American burial ground.

We are troubled by FreshDirect’s loud, inefficient, idling trucks that overburden New York City streets.

We are distressed by FreshDirect’s extortion of public funds by pitting New York against New Jersey and its lack of disclosure that it had space to expand in Long Island City.

We are dismayed by FreshDirect’s refusal to pay living wages and the company’s history of unfair labor and discrimination claims.

Therefore, we are boycotting FreshDirect in order to send them a simple message:

Until you take your responsibility as a corporate citizen seriously, we will take our business elsewhere, especially since virtually every rent-paying local grocery store will also deliver food.----------------